6th Feb 2010, 20:57

7th Feb 2010, 12:02

I disagree that he was "had". That sounds about right for a full-sized, luxury sedan with full options. In fact, it's probably cheap for such a car. It's hard to find a full sized, high option sedan for under $35,000 anymore. The Dodge Charger AWD is going at about $34,500 MSRP, the rear drive Charger with V-6 is running at around $25,000, the Ford Taurus is in the $25,000-$30,000 range. It may be your opinion that he paid too much if you don't like large, rear-drive sedans, but it's only your opinion. Obviously he is happy with it.

7th Feb 2010, 15:12

"Well said! I'll never be a fan of small cars..."

Larger, body-on-frame, rear-wheel drive cars are quite durable, however, they are also serious gas hogs and are not really that much safer than smaller cars. I'm sure some of you will say that you get 26 MPG with them, which is good for a V8, but I'm sure that most of you don't really need them. They can carry 6 people sure, but a Honda Accord, which is now also quite large compared to previous generations, can carry 5 and get 35+ MPG while doing it. I'm just saying, not trying to start anything.

8th Feb 2010, 16:20

I don't see 26 mpg as being a "serious gas hog." I think that's pretty impressive for a full-sized luxury sedan. And while it might be possible to wedge 6 people into an Accord --- no, there's no way to finish that sentence. Six high school kids on the way to a party might manage to fit into an Accord, but 6 adults would not submit to the indignity of being crammed and hunched together in one.

There's just no comparison between an Accord and a Grand Marquis or Crown Victoria in terms of room. And yes, I've driven both. The Accord is a fine car for commuting and running around town, but don't even attempt to suggest that an Accord is as comfortable or roomy as the large Grand Marquis or Crown Victoria. Seriously, don't respond until you actually go out and ride in both cars.

But on the other side of that, the large sedan is probably not the most appropriate car for city streets and heavy traffic. But if you can take advantage of it on the open roads with no traffic, where comfortable cruising is more important than zipping in and out of traffic, you should do so.

The original poster is in his 80s and still remembers when cars were cars, not "Mutt and Jeff" cars (older folks will know what that means). I wonder why people feel the need to attack some old guy for buying the last vehicle that he still considers a decent car?

9th Feb 2010, 13:33

9th Feb 2010, 21:35

I stated that 26 MPG is good for a V8 car. But it's still deplorable with today's gas prices.

I also never said you could fit 6 people into an Accord. I said you could fit 5. Which you can.

I have driven both cars actually. I used to own an Accord, a '96 (much smaller than today's Accord by far) it was a bit tight with 5 people of course, but so what? I didn't usually carry that many anyways. I see new Accords driving around all the time, even test drove one when I was looking for a new car before deciding on a Civic instead. (I'm amazed, Honda should be ashamed for making the Accord so bloated. It was much better when it was a smaller car. My new Civic is the same size as my old Accord. That's ridiculous.)

Just this past Christmas I rented a 2009 Mercury Grand Marquis to carry around my relatives who came up for the holidays (I own a 2008 Honda Civic. Not gonna fit much in it.) I carried 6 people in it each time I drove it. That's 6 adults in this "luxury cruiser", it was still pretty darn cramped. It basically felt like riding in a car that could carry 5, but with just a bit more room so you could manage 6. It wasn't much better on the highway than my Civic is, and yes it was awful for around town. (Oh and there's no comparison for what it was like in the snow against my Civic. The Mercury, even loaded down with 6 people was downright scary.)

I'm not criticizing this man for buying a large, V8 powered, body-on-frame, rear-wheel drive car. I was simply telling it like it is. The car's a dying breed, and I don't see it lasting much longer on the market, at least not for civilians, it may still be used for law enforcement as it is a tough vehicle.

11th Feb 2010, 22:14

Poster 21:35 made some valid points. I wonder if his rental GMQ had traction control? The Panther cars will be available on the "used car" market for years to come, so you don't have to rush out and buy a "brand new" one.

8th Nov 2010, 21:03

$26,000 dollars is cheap for that car. You could buy a $20,000 Honda and in 5 years you will have spent more than $6000 in repairs, so it really evens out. Not to mention the Grand Marquis is a much more comfortable car.

20th Apr 2012, 09:19

You know it's probably for the best that these cars aren't the tip of the spear in technology, because if they were, then they probably wouldn't last half as long as they do now.

Most advancements in car technology over the past 30 years has gone to more complexity, and less durability and reliability. Unfortunately most people don't seem to care if their cars are expensive to service and somewhat unreliable, as long as they have on board TVs, computers, etc. It's really sad what's going on with the auto industry. Looks like it's heading for a dark age or something.

20th Apr 2012, 15:14

Has anyone seen the dude on YouTube, who does many many reviews on old and new cars alike, and unfortunately cannot seem to get past fiddling around with the stupid command centres or iDrive systems on the latest cars, when all any of us really wants to see, is it being driven, not what the local TV or radio channels are broadcasting.

25th Jan 2013, 13:25

"some God awful tiny car that rides like a donkey cart"! I'm going to have to remember that one! Well said sir.

Reminds me of the summertime, back in the 90s, when I was toodling around in my 1982 Caprice Classic, and I decided to stop and test-drive a newer Volkswagen Golf. Well, naturally I left the Caprice running, as I always did for short stops, to keep the ice-cold air-con pumping.

The test drive was a nightmare - a horribly bumpy, herky-jerky little cramped mess of a car. I felt physically ill afterward, but thanks to the Caprice I was soon all better - sliding back behind the wheel to recline on that big soft bench seat was a real pleasure, and even better was the solid, confident, torquey feel as I took off down the American road.

My father used to say 'riding high, wide, and handsome'. Anyone know that old saying?

4th Aug 2013, 18:00

Once again a comparison is made to a Honda regarding interior space and fuel economy. Um hello people, American companies make mid size cars too. I'd like to see someone compare the Mercury's fuel economy to a Taurus or Malibu once in a while, rather than drinking the Japanese manufacturers' Kool-Aid.